DAVAO CITY — Around 50 workers picketed in front of Filipinas Port Services Inc. (Filport) to condemn the management of Filport Inc., which has many times violated workers’ rights.
Alex Tuazon, President of Namafil said, the management of Filport and Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Filport (Namafil) have already inked five Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) in the last 20 years. To our dismay, the company has failed to implement the provisions of the last CBA.
He also cited several cases of workers rights violations such as, reduction of meal allowance, no overtime pay, under distribution of uniform (one t-shirt instead of five), and the lack of safety gear, particularly shoes. The union office was also destroyed as per instruction by the management. Worse, the management ignored these complaints even after they were formally lodged before them in a letter sent by the union.
The cases being reported by the workers of Filport were gross violations to workers right stipulated in the Labor Code. The non implementation of CBA provisions should be given urgent action by the management, said Arman Blas, spokesperson of the KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno, May First Movement).
Blase said that they will continue with their protest actions until the management yields to their demands. Our experience has taught us that the best venue to press for our demands is through concerted actions like pickets and other forms of protest. We vow to exhaust these means because the survival of the workers is at stake.
collective bargaining agreement, Labor, picket, union
